Touch Screen Instrument Panel

Abstract

Systems, methods and computer-storage media are provided for a touch-screen interface panel (TSIP) of an aircraft/vehicle. The TSIP may communicate with one or more aircraft/vehicle systems. In other words, the TSIP is configured to display information of one or more aircraft/vehicle systems. For example, the TSIP may receive a request for weather information. In response, the TSIP receives weather information from a weather system and displays it via the TSIP screen. In another example, the TSIP may display warnings or alerts that are detected by an aircraft/vehicle warning system, maintenance system, or the like. Furthermore, information that may have typically been looked up physically or called in to a tower may now be provided via the TSIP by the interfacing of the TSIP with the systems maintaining the information. For example, a charts database may communicate with the TSIP and the information thereof displayed via the TSIP.

1 . A method for displaying information and receiving commands for directing a vehicle, comprising:
 displaying a real-time external view captured by a camera mounted to the vehicle on a single touch-screen instrument panel; and   overlaying one or more real-time interactive navigational displays over the real-time external view, such that a user maintains a heads-up view while directing the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein overlaying the one or more real-time interactive navigational displays comprises overlaying a navigational guide over the real-time external view, the navigational guide having one or more path indicators associated with spatial coordinates corresponding to the real-time external view for providing a real-time graphical representation of a navigational path. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein overlaying the one or more real-time interactive navigational displays comprises overlaying a touchable icon over a nearby vehicle or a geographical location visible in the real-time external view such that an indication received via touch input displays information about the nearby vehicle or geographical location. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising overlaying one or more user interfaces for displaying vehicle or flight information and receiving commands via touch input. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the one or more user interfaces to a different location of the single touch-screen instrument panel to enable visualization of a different portion of the real-time external view or of the one or more real-time interactive navigational displays. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising modifying the real-time external view by overlaying a synthetic view based on an infrared real-time image such that the external real-time view is enhanced by the synthetic view. 
     
     
         7 . A heads-up display for a vehicle, comprising:
 a touch-screen instrument panel comprising a single interactive display;   a real-time external view provided by a camera mounted to the vehicle, the real-time external view substantially spanning the single interactive display; and   a computer having a non-transitory memory for storing software instructions and a processor for executing the software instructions, the computer enabling:
 at least one user interface overlaying the real-time external view to display navigational or travel information and to receive indications for directing the vehicle and managing the navigational and travel information; and 
 a navigational display overlaying a feature visible in the real-time external view. 
   
     
     
         8 . The heads-up display of  claim 7 , wherein the single interactive display substantially extends across a user compartment of the vehicle in front of one or more user seats. 
     
     
         9 . The heads-up display of  claim 7 , wherein the navigational display comprises a touchable icon that highlights the feature visible in the real-time external view such that an indication received via touch input displays information about the feature. 
     
     
         10 . The heads-up display of  claim 7 , wherein the feature is selected from the group consisting of vehicles, origin locations, destination locations, and geographical locations. 
     
     
         11 . The heads-up display of  claim 7 , wherein the navigational display comprises a navigational guide having one or more route indicators associated with spatial coordinates corresponding to the real-time external view for providing a real-time graphical representation of a navigational path. 
     
     
         12 . The heads-up display of  claim 7 , further comprising an awareness-enhancing indicator for illuminating a substantial portion of a periphery of the single interactive display due to an urgent navigational condition. 
     
     
         13 . The heads-up display of  claim 7 , further comprising an awareness-enhancing indicator highlighting a button of a menu corresponding to the at least one user interface for displaying navigational or vehicle information pertaining to a condition that requires attention. 
     
     
         14 . An instrument panel for a vehicle, comprising:
 a touch screen displaying a real-time external view captured by a forward-facing camera, the real-time external view substantially spanning the touch screen; and   a computer having a non-transitory memory for storing software instructions and a processor for executing the software instructions, the computer overlaying at least one user interface over the real-time external view for displaying navigational or vehicle information and receiving commands by touch input, thereby enabling a user to maintain a heads-up view while operating the vehicle.   
     
     
         15 . The instrument panel of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one user interface is moveable by touch gestures for moving to a desired location on the touch screen. 
     
     
         16 . The instrument panel of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one user interface is pinnable to a portion of the touch screen for enabling touch gestures to manipulate features of the at least one user interface. 
     
     
         17 . The instrument panel of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one user interface includes a navigational aid for displaying a traffic guide.